The Global Legal Profession in the Age of COVID-19
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The Global Legal Profession in the Age of COVID-19

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December 11, 2020 | Features

Working Remotely 'Sped Up' Vaccine Work: Lawyers Involved Tell Their Story

With the world waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine, the lawyers involved tell of how they worked day and night despite being in lockdown themselves.
6 minute read
May 21, 2020 | Features

'COVID-19 Has Put Mental Health On Everyone's Agenda': The Former Lawyer Turned Corporate Wellbeing Trainer

The former Mishcon lawyer says that the demands of the job can create a culture of obsessiveness, perfectionism and control.
5 minute read
March 24, 2020 | Analysis

Big Four Legal Arm Head Says COVID-19 Will Change the Way Law is Practiced

Stuart Fuller, head of global legal services for KPMG, said the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic will especially lead to changes at traditional law firms.
6 minute read
April 23, 2020 | Features

The COVID-19 Lockdown Is a Game Changer for Women in Law

Women say that the lockdown has legitimised remote working practices so that they are no longer "a female issue".
5 minute read
May 05, 2020 | News

French Law Firms Prepare for a 'Soft Opening' After COVID-19 Lockdown

Managing partners say that while their offices will be ready to welcome lawyers and staff May 11, most will probably choose to stay home for now.
6 minute read
April 22, 2020 | Analysis

Law Firms in Latin America Look for Options to Ease Financial Pain During COVID-19 Crisis

Employment laws make it difficult and expensive to cut pay, furlough or lay off legal talent in the region.
7 minute read
May 11, 2020 | News

A Firm-By-Firm Guide on the Latest Pandemic Measures

The latest: Freshfields delays its leadership election to later this year, while Hill Dickinson cuts all staff pay.
18 minute read
April 20, 2020 | Analysis

Law Firms Scramble for Cash and Banks' Phones Are Ringing Off the Hook

The many conversations happening now between law firms and their lenders may be easier this time around than in the Great Recession, but partners may be increasingly on the hook.
8 minute read
April 21, 2020 | Features

Recruiters Are 'Flouting Privacy Rules' to Place Candidates

The constant circulation of CVs in the UK market means that candidates have little control over where their personal data ends up, and there could be legal ramifications.
6 minute read
April 23, 2020 | News

Osborne Clarke Exits Hong Kong Citing Protests and Virus

The firm only launched under its own name last year, and was previously in an association with a local firm.
3 minute read
April 22, 2020 | News

CMS Poland Builds Transactions Practice With Clifford Chance Team, Sees Upturn in COVID-19's Wake

After the addition of five Clifford Chance lawyers, the team will continue to be led by partner Rafał Zwierz 
2 minute read
December 09, 2020 | News

Which Firms Have Repaid Furlough Money? A Firm-By-Firm Guide

About 30 top UK firms applied to the government job retention scheme earlier this year, now almost half have repaid the money.
5 minute read
April 10, 2020

In-House Hiring During the Coronavirus Pandemic: 'It's Not an Easy Time'

In-house and executive recruiters say COVID-19 has altered the hiring landscape, perhaps forever, but it's not all bad.
7 minute read
April 22, 2020 | News

Facebook, Google to Be Forced to Share Revenue With Australian Media Companies

The move follows a report last year that found the companies wield too much influence over Australia's news and advertising markets and deprive consumers of control over their personal information.
3 minute read
April 22, 2020 | Expert Opinion

How a Leading Barristers Chambers Confronted the COVID-19 Crisis

Jane Bewsey QC of Red Lion Chambers explains how the pandemic has affected both the professional and personal lives of barristers.
4 minute read
April 22, 2020 | Q&A

Legal Life In Lockdown: PPF's Legal Director on Living Through "A Dystopian Drama"

Dana Grey discusses the challenge of "not having the small human interactions" when working remotely.
4 minute read
April 21, 2020 | News

Dentons Paris Cuts Associate Pay, Staff Hours and Spending in Response to COVID-19

The cuts are in addition to region-wide measures announced this week.
2 minute read
April 06, 2020 | Analysis

For Big Law in France, No Panic—Yet

Firm size and government support are giving big French law firms reason to be optimistic about weathering the coronavirus downturn, if it doesn't go on too long.
6 minute read
March 31, 2020 | News

Lateral Hiring May Fall 75% Amid Outbreak, Recruiters Say

Some fear recruiters will have to make job cuts given the steep drop in recruitment activity caused by coronavirus disruption.
3 minute read
April 24, 2020 | News

Orrick Adds an M&A Partner in Paris, Anticipating a Post-Crisis Upturn

Olivier Jouffroy joins from Clifford Chance with experience in strategic sectors for Orrick.
4 minute read
April 24, 2020 | Expert Opinion

What Firms Need to Know About the Inevitable Future of Remote Working

There are several things firms need to know about this next phase of working, according to a partnership law expert.
7 minute read
April 24, 2020 | News

COVID-19 Latest: CMS Joins Others In Deferring Distributions

The firm is the last of the U.K. top 10 largest firms to announce measures.
2 minute read
November 29, 2020 | News

Latest COVID-19 UK Staff Cuts: A Firm-By-Firm Guide

As of this month, 25 firms have made or are making redundancies as a result of the pandemic disruption.
9 minute read
April 23, 2020 | News

Clyde & Co Slashes Global Promotions But Boosts Diversity

The firm made up 24 in a surprise bumper round in 2019.
2 minute read
April 23, 2020 | News

UK Top 50 Firm Scraps Award Payouts As Dentons Offers 4 Day Week

Dentons U.K. and Middle East arm has taken further measures.
2 minute read
April 24, 2020 | News

Mishcon, Pinsents Float Reduced Week for Lawyers as CMS, HSF Take Action In Spain

CMS has cut staff in its Madrid office, while HSF has rolled out a reduced working week in the city.
3 minute read
April 24, 2020 | News

Amazon France Loses Appeal Over Worker Safety From COVID-19

Facing heavy fines, the company said it would keep its French warehouses closed through April 28 while it evaluates "the best way to operate in light of the decision."
5 minute read
April 24, 2020 | News

DWF Extends Credit Facility, Takes on More Debt as it Braces For Virus Impact

The new agreement is in place to help see the firm through the lockdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
3 minute read
April 23, 2020 | News

How Hogan Lovells Has Lobbied for Saudi Arabia During the COVID-19 Crisis

New filings made under the Foreign Agents Registration Act at the U.S. Justice Department offer a glimpse at some of the advocacy the firm has conducted for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia amid the coronavirus outbreak.
4 minute read
April 20, 2020 | News

Australian Law Firms Share and Cooperate on COVID-19 Response

The chief operating officers at Australian and Global firms in the country are routinely emailing each other with updates on their latest responses to the coronavirus crisis and with questions on what to do next.
4 minute read
April 14, 2020 | News

Big Four's EY Cuts Pay and Hours in Oceania, but Legal Arm Remains Strong

The measures, put in place to mitigate the economic impact brought on by the COVID-19 crisis, are designed to avoid the need for layoffs, said EY Oceania Managing Partner and CEO Tony Johnson.
2 minute read
April 09, 2020 | News

Slaughter and May Suspends Partner Pay

The move by the elite firm follows similar decisions across the UK's top tier.
2 minute read
April 14, 2020 | Analysis

Litigation Funders Thrive as Companies and Law Firms Seek Financing

In the unprecedented economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus, well-heeled companies and law firms are seeking to fortify their cash reserves and contain capital expenditures.
5 minute read
October 28, 2020 | Features

We Bought Thousands of Laptops: Dentons' Chair on Tackling COVID-19 Globally

Dentons' Joe Andrew explains how he led a firm with more than 10,000 lawyers and more than 180 offices through the pandemic.
6 minute read
April 07, 2020 | News

Norton Rose Fulbright Cuts Australian Lawyer Pay as PwC Reduces Hours and Local Partner Drawdowns

NRF's actions are similar to those the firm took last week at its offices in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
4 minute read
April 06, 2020 | News

Pay Cuts, Layoffs, and More: How Law Firms Are Managing the Pandemic

Our firm-by-firm guide to how law firms are protecting their bottom lines from the economic fallout of the coronavirus.
7 minute read
April 06, 2020 | News

Baker McKenzie Maintains Lawyer Pay in Australia While Others Make Cuts

Instead of making cuts, the firm has increased working flexibility for staff, offering the possibility of adjusted hours, reduced hours, and taking accrued carers or annual/long service leave.
2 minute read
April 06, 2020 | News

Mexican Lawyers Hustle to Advise Clients on Health Emergency

Lawyers are in high demand as clients seek advice, car and beer makers ask the government to consider them among industries providing essential services, and multiple companies anticipate difficulty fulfilling contracts.
5 minute read
April 06, 2020 | News

PwC Legal Arm Hit as Auditor Freezes Promotions, Pay Raises and Bonuses 

The firm is the second of the Big Four to announce measures to stem the economic impact of the coronavirus and the latest in a series of similar announcements among professional services firms.
3 minute read
April 03, 2020 | News

Australian Law Firms Cut Partner Pay Amid COVID-19 Crisis

They also have enacted other measures, including putting non-business-critical projects on hold, placing a freeze on new hires and deferring promotions.
3 minute read
April 03, 2020 | Features

What it's Like to Work From Home When Your Partner is a Lawyer Too

Lawyer couples recount battles for the study and pretending to leave the house to stop the children distracting them.
6 minute read
April 02, 2020 | News

Australia's Clayton Utz Freezes Hiring, Will Cut Hours if Conditions Worsen

The firm stated that cash flow is a concern because clients will be looking at their own finances and may delay bill payments.
2 minute read
March 30, 2020 | News

Clifford Chance Takes Long View On Virus, Postpones June Partner Conference

This is the furthest ahead that any major firm has postponed a conference so far.
2 minute read
March 30, 2020 | News

What Law Firms Have Over the Big Four

Annette Kimmitt, chief executive of top-tier Australian firm MinterEllison and a former EY managing partner, says law firms can offer clients value that the Big Four can't—especially in the time of the coronavirus.
5 minute read
December 16, 2020 | Features

The Year in Review: 2020 Wasn't All Bad For Europe

Lawyers in the UK and Continental Europe have had a year unlike any other. It was tough, but 2020 also delivered some extremely valuable lessons.
9 minute read
April 20, 2020 | Q&A

Will Coronavirus Be a Boon for Alternative Legal Service Providers? A Q&A with Axiom Executive VP David Pierce

Pierce, a former Big Law attorney, CEO and general counsel, predicted that the "amount of work that is going to more traditional providers will probably shrink and most buyers will start to really think about whether the work streams are in the proper hands."
5 minute read
April 20, 2020 | News

Dentons' UK and Middle East Arm Furloughs Over 100 Staff, Withholds Distributions

The decision comes a week after the firm slashed Europe and Central Asia partner profits.
2 minute read
April 16, 2020

Ashurst Cuts Staff Working Week, Reduces Partner Drawings, Furloughing Staff

"The health crisis we are seeing in the countries where we operate is unprecedented," says the firm's managing partner.
2 minute read
April 16, 2020 | News

Reed Smith Defers Bonuses As Withers, Weightmans Furlough Staff

Further U.K. firms have furloughed staff, while Squire Patton Boggs has introduced new U.K. holiday measures.
3 minute read
April 15, 2020 | News

Norton Rose Staff Approve Four Day Week As More Firms Slash Partner Pay, Furlough Staff

Dentons has slashed its Europe and Central Asia partner distributions, while some of its European board members have offered to take 50% pay cuts.
4 minute read
April 23, 2020 | News

Travers Defers Partner Distributions, But Keeps Furloughed Staff on Full Pay

The firm is the latest to implement measures to combat the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
3 minute read
April 15, 2020 | Features

Using Zoom? Not So Fast. The Dangers of Lawyers Working Remotely

With the mass move to remote-working, lawyers now have a multitude of data privacy issues to consider.
5 minute read
April 17, 2020 | News

German Firm Noerr Posts Record Revenue in 2019, Hopes to Avoid Major COVID-19 Disruption

The firm is seeking to keep all of its employees through the coronavirus crisis.
3 minute read
April 10, 2020 | News

Quinn Emanuel Partner Dies Of COVID-19

Steven Edwards, coronavirus victim, combined litigation prowess with character and kindness
4 minute read
March 23, 2020 | Q&A

Crisis Management Replaces Transactional Work for Brazilian Lawyers as COVID-19 Spreads

Lawyers in Brazil once anticipated a banner year for capital markets. Now their focus has shifted.
6 minute read
May 22, 2020 | News

China Reopens But the Effects of the Pandemic Remain

Law firms are returning to something approaching normal office life again, but few expect a quick economic recovery.
6 minute read
April 02, 2020

Chinese Masks and Ventilators From Ford: How Hogan Lovells Lawyers in China and the US Worked to Fill a Void

With critical medical supplies running short, the firm's pro bono efforts helped Patriots owner Bob Kraft use his team's plane to secure 1.7 million N95 masks from China and guided Ford in a deal with GE Healthcare to produce 50,000 ventilators in 100 days.
4 minute read
April 06, 2020 | Features

Middle East Firms Face an Oil Crash, a Pandemic and Curfews

Law firms in the Middle East have been hit with a plunging oil price, but for now the coronavirus remains the biggest concern.
6 minute read
March 31, 2020 | News

Cadwalader Halts Partner Pay, Cuts Associate and Staff Compensation

Partners "have been told not to expect any distributions during the peak months of the crisis," according to an internal memo, as the firm looks to avoid layoffs.
4 minute read
March 31, 2020 | News

Law Society Asks Bank of England if Firms Can Access Government Loan Scheme

'All law firms will definitely be looking at ways to borrow money right now,' says one partner.
3 minute read
April 14, 2020 | News

Spanish Firm Raises €20M With Cash Call to Shore Up Finances

The firm said that the move will help it avoid using bank credit to get through the coronavirus crisis.
2 minute read
April 13, 2020 | News

Law Firms Across Africa Respond to the Spread of COVID-19

The African continent has so far seen more than 10,000 reported cases of the coronavirus and more than 500 deaths, but several countries have imposed lockdowns to help flatten the curve.
4 minute read
April 09, 2020

Will COVID-19 Impact Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in China?

China's support for its businesses' force majeure claims is raising questions about the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards.
7 minute read
April 01, 2020 | News

As COVID-19 Spreads, Deal Lawyers Await Its Impact on China's Markets

Investment flows between the U.S. and China fell off in 2019, and circumstances make 2020 look even worse.
4 minute read
April 28, 2020 | News

Ashurst Delays Partner Promotions in Response to COVID-19

The firm announced earlier this month that it would take steps to reduce partner drawings and delay the payment of bonuses.
2 minute read
April 27, 2020 | Analysis

COVID-19 Raises Broad Array of Tax and Business Questions for Latin American Clients

The pandemic has created an opportunity for lawyers with Latin American clients to strengthen their client-lawyer relationships as wealthy individuals waylaid outside their home countries seek personalized assistance.
4 minute read
May 18, 2020 | Features

For The Legaltech Sector, COVID-19 Could Mean Boom... or Bust

For some legaltech firms, the pandemic brings unprecedented opportunity; for others, untold misery.
5 minute read
April 27, 2020 | Commentary

Why More Firms Should Cut Salaries Sooner Rather Than Later

As we approach the end of April, firms are running out of time to materially reduce 2020 costs, Hugh A. Simons writes. Salary cuts have appeal not just because compensation comprises about two-thirds of total cost, but also because they deliver immediate savings.
6 minute read
April 27, 2020 | News

Dentons Australia Cuts Staff and Partner Pay

Staff salaries are reduced by 20% while partner pay is cut by half for all Australian offices.
2 minute read
May 06, 2020 | Analysis

Canadian Law Firms Make Adjustments in the Age of the Coronavirus

Firms mastered work-from-home arrangements but they are still tacking issues surrounding cash flow, long-term cost-cutting measures, and when and how to transition back to the office.
4 minute read
June 03, 2020 | News

Linklaters Plots London Office Return, Eyes COVID-19 Impact on Next Base

Partners at Linklaters say the return will be gradual, with the firm's operations team taking the lead on planning.
2 minute read
June 04, 2020 | News

Privacy Concerns Over UK Government's COVID-Tracing App

Lawyers have questioned the use of the NHS' new 'track & trace' app to store personal data for up to 20 years.
3 minute read
June 03, 2020 | News

Gowling Advising Drug Giant on Development of COVID-19 Vaccine

The vaccine is currently in phase one clinical, which may lead to future trials.
2 minute read
June 04, 2020 | News

Brazilian Law Firm Lefosse Mulls Slow Office Return as Country Stirs to Open

Latin America's largest economy now ranks second worldwide for COVID-19 infections and deaths.
5 minute read
May 28, 2020 | News

Lateral Hiring in Australia Stalls as Law Firms Assess Impact of COVID-19 Crisis

Law firms are doing less hiring overall but there is still demand for lawyers in some practice areas, recruiters say.
5 minute read
May 21, 2020 | Expert Opinion

Lord Sumption: A Response To My Critics On Lockdown

"Somebody has to speak up for rationality, objectivity, and a sense of proportion" regarding the COVID-19 lockdown, the former Supreme Court judge says.
4 minute read
December 17, 2020 | Features

The Year in Review: Green Shoots Follow Dry Spell in Asia Pacific

There were strong signs of recovery in the latter part of 2020, particularly in China where COVID-19 first took flight.
11 minute read
June 03, 2020 | News

US Firm Implements Layoffs of Associates in London, Citing COVID-19

Dorsey & Whitney has laid off four associates -- part of firmwide measures that have taken place due to the pandemic.
2 minute read
June 05, 2020 | News

Freshfields, Hengeler to Reopen Offices in Germany

While offices will open from next week, returning will be on a voluntary basis.
2 minute read